Deoxynivalenol-induced cytokines and related genes in concanavalin A-stimulated primary chicken splenic lymphocytes

• Deoxynivalenol immunotoxicity in the splenic lymphocytes of chickens has been evaluated in vitro.
• DON influenced the concentrations of the related cytokines.
• DON influenced the mRNA expression levels of the related cytokines.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) immunotoxicity and its induction of cytokines and related genes in the splenic lymphocytes of chickens have not been completely elucidated. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of 48 h of different DON treatments (0 μg/mL, 0.2 μg/mL, 0.8 μg/mL, 3.2 μg/mL, 12.5 μg/mL, and 50 μg/mL) on the secretion and the mRNA expressions of some cytokine genes, such as interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), IL-1RI, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12β, and IFN-γ in chicken splenic lymphocytes. The concentrations of IL-1RI, IL-6, IL-10, and IFN-γ were increased with the DON concentrations increasing (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). However, the concentrations of IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-12β were decreased with the DON concentrations increasing (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Except IL-1β, the mRNA expressions of the other cytokines were up-regulated by DON. The highest mRNA expressions values of IL-1RI, IL-4, IL-10, IL-12β, and IFN-γ were at 50 μg/mL DON treatment groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), while the highest mRNA expressions values of IL-2 and IL-6 were at 12.5 μg/mL DON treatment groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Our data revealed that the potent effects of DON in affecting the secretion and the mRNA expression of the related cytokines in chicken splenic lymphocytes in vitro.